Systems and methods for downloading and updating save data to a data center are described. Save data is downloaded from a cloud storage to the data center before play of a game to cache the save data in the data center. Any updates to the save data that occur during a play of a game are stored in the data center and are uploaded to the cloud storage. Next time, a user desires to access the game, there is no need to transfer the updates to the data center from the cloud storage.

A network game system includes a server apparatus and a plurality of video game apparatuses connected to the server apparatus. A party includes player characters of a plurality of players. When the party battles with an opponent character, the server apparatus simultaneously transmits movie playback information to each video game apparatus for starting playback of a movie. Each of the players can skip the movie at a desired timing. A screen is displayed on each video game apparatus that has skipped the movie until the battle starts. When information is received from each video game apparatus that indicates playback of the movie has ended, the server apparatus simultaneously transmits battle start information to each video game apparatus.

A network game system includes a server apparatus and a plurality of video game apparatuses connected to the server apparatus. A party includes player characters of a plurality of players. When the party battles with an opponent character, the server apparatus simultaneously transmits movie playback information to each video game apparatus for starting playback of a movie. Each of the players can skip the movie at a desired timing. A screen is displayed on each video game apparatus that has skipped the movie until the battle starts. When information is received from each video game apparatus that indicates playback of the movie has ended, the server apparatus simultaneously transmits battle start information to each video game apparatus.

A method for sharing content with other HMDs includes rendering content of a virtual environment scene on a display screen of a head-mounted display associated with a first user. The display screen rendering the virtual environment scene represents a virtual reality space of the first user. A request to share the virtual reality space of the first user is detected. The request targets a second user. In response to detecting acceptance of the request to share, the virtual reality space of the first user is shared with the second user. The sharing allows synchronizing the virtual environment scene rendered on the head mounted display of the first and the second users.

A method for sharing content with other HMDs includes rendering content of a virtual environment scene on a display screen of a head-mounted display associated with a first user. The display screen rendering the virtual environment scene represents a virtual reality space of the first user. A request to share the virtual reality space of the first user is detected. The request targets a second user. In response to detecting acceptance of the request to share, the virtual reality space of the first user is shared with the second user. The sharing allows synchronizing the virtual environment scene rendered on the head mounted display of the first and the second users.

A method performed by at least one server computer is provided, including: during interactive gameplay of a multi-player video game, processing game state data to identify gameplay activity of a player as being abusive; responsive to the identifying the gameplay activity as being abusive, then applying a corrective action to the player during the interactive gameplay, the corrective action providing an indication to the player of the gameplay activity that was identified as being abusive; after applying the corrective action, further processing the game state data to identify additional gameplay activity of the player as being abusive; responsive to the identifying the additional gameplay activity as being abusive, then applying a penalty to the player.

A method, system and device for controller operation, comprises detecting a change in a state of the controller from a charging state to an operation state. A state of the computing device changes from a controller charging state to a controller operation state in response to detecting the change in the state of the controller. The computing device receives an input from the controller sends a visual indication of the input to a display device. Additionally, a method, system and device for enhanced controller charging, may comprise detecting a change in a controller state from an operation state to a charging state. A computing device determines whether an ignore input is present after detecting the change in controller state and automatically signs out of a user account or automatically goes into a standby mode when the ignore input is not present.

Methods and systems described in this disclosure are directed at gamification. In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to methods and systems for tracking actions taken by a user at predetermined gaming levels in a gaming application, the gaming application also facilitating users to interact with the gaming application in the form of questions and answers. If the user is unable to provide a minimum number of correct responses to the questions presented, the gaming application displays actions that are to be performed by the user to continue playing the game. In some embodiments, a game is paused temporarily by a pause signal sent to the gaming application. The game resumes when a resume signal is sent to activate the gaming application.

Methods and systems described in this disclosure are directed at gamification. In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to methods and systems for tracking actions taken by a user at predetermined gaming levels in a gaming application, the gaming application also facilitating users to interact with the gaming application in the form of questions and answers. If the user is unable to provide a minimum number of correct responses to the questions presented, the gaming application displays actions that are to be performed by the user to continue playing the game. In some embodiments, a game is paused temporarily by a pause signal sent to the gaming application. The game resumes when a resume signal is sent to activate the gaming application.

A method for influencing a gaming world of a video game. The method including cross-pollinating a first path using an inter-game communication medium across a plurality of virtual environments of a plurality of asynchronous game plays of a plurality of players playing the video game. The method including determining that a first path has been traversed one or more times by one or more characters of the plurality of players in the plurality of asynchronous game plays. The method including improving the first path based on a number of times the first path has been traversed by the one or more characters. The method including cross-pollinating the first path that has been improved across the plurality of virtual environments.